EP0952727B1 - Dispositif de formation d'image capable d'ajuster la vitesse de traitement de lignes - Google Patents

Dispositif de formation d'image capable d'ajuster la vitesse de traitement de lignes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0952727B1
EP0952727B1 EP99107315A EP99107315A EP0952727B1 EP 0952727 B1 EP0952727 B1 EP 0952727B1 EP 99107315 A EP99107315 A EP 99107315A EP 99107315 A EP99107315 A EP 99107315A EP 0952727 B1 EP0952727 B1 EP 0952727B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
process line
development
image forming
speed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99107315A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0952727A3 (fr
EP0952727A2 (fr
Inventor
Kota Fujimori
Takayuki Maruta
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Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP10125302A external-priority patent/JPH11305500A/ja
Priority claimed from JP10253645A external-priority patent/JP2000105526A/ja
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority to EP08153540A priority Critical patent/EP1940142B1/fr
Publication of EP0952727A2 publication Critical patent/EP0952727A2/fr
Publication of EP0952727A3 publication Critical patent/EP0952727A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0952727B1 publication Critical patent/EP0952727B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/04—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for exposing, i.e. imagewise exposure by optically projecting the original image on a photoconductive recording material
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5033—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control by measuring the photoconductor characteristics, e.g. temperature, or the characteristics of an image on the photoconductor
    • G03G15/5041—Detecting a toner image, e.g. density, toner coverage, using a test patch
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
    • G03G15/161—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5033—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control by measuring the photoconductor characteristics, e.g. temperature, or the characteristics of an image on the photoconductor
    • G03G15/5037—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control by measuring the photoconductor characteristics, e.g. temperature, or the characteristics of an image on the photoconductor the characteristics being an electrical parameter, e.g. voltage
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H04N1/0402—Scanning different formats; Scanning with different densities of dots per unit length, e.g. different numbers of dots per inch (dpi); Conversion of scanning standards
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H04N1/0402—Scanning different formats; Scanning with different densities of dots per unit length, e.g. different numbers of dots per inch (dpi); Conversion of scanning standards
    • H04N1/0408—Different densities of dots per unit length
    • H04N1/0414—Different densities of dots per unit length in the sub scanning direction
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H04N1/0402—Scanning different formats; Scanning with different densities of dots per unit length, e.g. different numbers of dots per inch (dpi); Conversion of scanning standards
    • H04N1/042—Details of the method used
    • H04N1/0443—Varying the scanning velocity or position
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/23—Reproducing arrangements
    • H04N1/29—Reproducing arrangements involving production of an electrostatic intermediate picture
    • H04N1/295—Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/40—Picture signal circuits
    • H04N1/40025—Circuits exciting or modulating particular heads for reproducing continuous tone value scales
    • H04N1/40037—Circuits exciting or modulating particular heads for reproducing continuous tone value scales the reproducing element being a laser
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/40—Picture signal circuits
    • H04N1/40025—Circuits exciting or modulating particular heads for reproducing continuous tone value scales
    • H04N1/4005—Circuits exciting or modulating particular heads for reproducing continuous tone value scales with regulating circuits, e.g. dependent upon ambient temperature or feedback control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/40—Picture signal circuits
    • H04N1/407—Control or modification of tonal gradation or of extreme levels, e.g. background level
    • H04N1/4076—Control or modification of tonal gradation or of extreme levels, e.g. background level dependent on references outside the picture
    • H04N1/4078—Control or modification of tonal gradation or of extreme levels, e.g. background level dependent on references outside the picture using gradational references, e.g. grey-scale test pattern analysis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00025—Machine control, e.g. regulating different parts of the machine
    • G03G2215/00029—Image density detection
    • G03G2215/00033—Image density detection on recording member
    • G03G2215/00037—Toner image detection
    • G03G2215/00042—Optical detection
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00025—Machine control, e.g. regulating different parts of the machine
    • G03G2215/00029—Image density detection
    • G03G2215/00033—Image density detection on recording member
    • G03G2215/00054—Electrostatic image detection
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/01—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes for producing multicoloured copies
    • G03G2215/0167—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes for producing multicoloured copies single electrographic recording member
    • G03G2215/0174—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes for producing multicoloured copies single electrographic recording member plural rotations of recording member to produce multicoloured copy
    • G03G2215/0177—Rotating set of developing units
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H04N1/113—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using oscillating or rotating mirrors
    • H04N1/1135—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using oscillating or rotating mirrors for the main-scan only
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H04N1/12—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus which is capable of changing process line speeds for image forming and image transfer operations in accordance with image forming conditions.
  • This invention also relates to an image forming apparatus which is capable of changing a process line speed of a photoconductor in accordance with user desires for speed and quality in image forming.
  • the image resolution is changed by varying a writing density with a laser beam and a rotation speed of a photoconductive drum while maintaining a rotation speed of a polygon motor unchanged.
  • the image resolution can be changed also by changing a rotation speed of the polygon motor.
  • a relatively high image resolution can be obtained by a relatively high speed rotation of the polygon motor.
  • an increase of the rotation speed of the polygon motor may require a great deal of structural modification with respect to the polygon motor, causing a relatively high cost increase. Therefore, the rotation speed of the polygon motor is generally controlled to be unchanged.
  • Japanese Open-Laid Patent Publication No. JPAP01-224780 (1989 ) describes a technique which varies a density of data writing with a laser beam in accordance with the image resolution and also varies a process line speed in accordance with a change of the density. Further, this technique varies, in accordance with a change of the process line speed, conditions for various factors such as a latent image forming, development, image transfer, image fixing, and so forth.
  • Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. JPAP04-67174 (1992 ) describes a technique which generates a full-color image using a compact fixing unit and with superior quality by reducing a rotation speed of an intermediate image transfer member to an approximate rotation speed of a fixing unit after a full-color and full-one-page image has been completely transferred onto the intermediate image transfer member.
  • Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. JPAP06-11977 (1994 ) describes a technique which relates to process line speeds of the image forming and image transfer operations.
  • An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method has also been popularly used, in which an image forming is achieved by a sequential operation including an image exposure on a photoconductor with a laser beam, an image development with toner, and so forth.
  • a recording density of image has been desired to be increased.
  • One method is a reduction of a rotation speed, or a process line speed, of the photoconductor, which method however adversely affects operation time. Accordingly, it would be useful if the user can select a process line speed out of a plurality of prestored process line speeds in accordance with a type of job that the user conducts, such as a speed-prioritized job or a quality-prioritized job, for example.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a novel image forming device which can properly perform a shading correction while avoiding an abnormal effect on an image output quality caused by dust.
  • an image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus, comprising an image carrying member which can carry on a surface thereof an image formed by exposing said surface to a scanning laser beam in accordance with an image forming process; an intermediate image transfer member positioned to receive said image from said image carrying member, and transfer said image onto a recording sheet in accordance with an image transfer process; a memory which stores a plurality of values of selectable process line speeds A, each defining a speed of the image forming process performed on said image carrying member with the scanning laser beam in a sub-scanning direction, and a plurality of values of selectable process line speeds B, each defining a speed of the image transfer process; and a controller connected to control a speed of at least the image carrying member and the intermediate image transfer member such as to make a plurality of combinations of said process line speeds A and B by arbitrarily selecting one of said plurality of values of selectable process line speeds A and one of said plurality of values of select
  • a plurality of development mechanisms each of which can contain development agents and which are positioned to develop an image by making the developing agents contact said surface of said image carrying member; and a switch connected to said plurality of development mechanisms such as to switch said plurality of development mechanisms between a first condition in which said development mechanisms cause the development agents to contact said surface of said image carrying member and a second condition in which said development mechanisms cause the development agents to come out of contact with said surface of said image carrying member.
  • the controller is constructed to control said switch to switch each of said plurality of development mechanisms into said second condition when the process line speeds A and B are changing.
  • the image forming apparatus may instead comprise image carrying means for carrying on a surface thereof an image formed by exposing said surface to a scanning laser beam in accordance with an image forming process; intermediate image transfer means for receiving the image from said image carrying member, and for transferring the image onto a recording sheet in accordance with an image transfer process; memory means for storing a plurality of values of selectable process line speeds A, each defining a speed of the image forming process performed on said image carrying member with the scanning laser beam in a sub-scanning direction, and a plurality of values of selectable process line speeds B, each defining a speed of the image transfer process; and control means for controlling a speed of at least the image carrying means and the intermediate image transfer means such as to make a plurality of combinations of said process line speeds A and B by arbitrarily selecting one of said plurality of values of selectable process line speeds A and one of said plurality of values of selectable process line speeds B and for controlling at least the image carrying means and the intermediate image transfer means according
  • a plurality of development means are provided for developing an image by making developing agents contact said surface of said image carrying means; and means are provided for switching said plurality of development means between a first condition in which said development means cause the development agents to contact said surface of said image carrying means and a second condition in which said development means cause the development agents to come out of contact with said surface of said image carrying means.
  • the control means comprises means for switching each of said plurality of development means into said second condition when the process line speeds A and B are changing.
  • the image forming apparatus may instead comprise an image forming process comprising the steps of forming an image on a surface of an image carrying member by exposing said surface to a scanning laser beam; transferring the image onto an intermediate image transfer member; transferring the image onto a recording sheet; selecting a combination of process line speeds A and B by arbitrarily selecting one of the plurality of values of selectable process line speeds A and one of said plurality of values of selectable process line speeds B, wherein the selectable process line speeds A each define a speed of the forming step in a sub-scanning direction, and the selectable process line speeds B each define a speed of the image transfer steps; and controlling at least the image carrying member and the intermediate image transfer member according to the selected process line speeds.
  • a plurality of development mechanisms are positioned to develop an image by making the developing agents contact said surface of said image carrying member, and when the process line speeds A and B are changing, a plurality of development mechanisms containing development agents are switched between a first condition in which said development mechanisms cause the development agents to contact said surface of said image carrying member and a second condition in which said development mechanisms cause the development agents to come out of contact with said surface of said image carrying member.
  • the plurality of combinations includes either a combination in which said process line speed A is greater than said process line speed B or a combination in which said process line speed A is smaller than said process line speed B.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated a full-color copying apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the full-color copying apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 uses black (B), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) toner to produce a full-color image.
  • the copying apparatus 100 includes a printer 1, a scanner 2, a paper supplier 3, a document feeder 4, and a sorter 5.
  • the printer 1 of the copying apparatus 100 includes an image forming mechanism which has an exemplary structure as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • the image forming mechanism of the printer 1 includes, at a center thereof, a drum-shaped photoconductor 10 as an image carrying member which is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing.
  • the image forming mechanism further includes, around the photoconductor 10 according to an electrophotographic method, a quenching lamp 11, a scorotron-type drum charger 12, an optical writing system 13; an eraser 14, a full-color image development mechanism 15, an intermediate image transfer belt 16, and a photoconductor cleaning unit 17.
  • a laser diode (not shown) is driven so as to generate a modulated laser beam in accordance with an image data stream.
  • the optical writing system 13 includes a polygon mirror 18, a polygon motor 19, an f (ef theta) lens 20, and so forth.
  • the polygon mirror 18 is driven by the polygon mirror 19 to rotate in a relatively high speed so that the modulated laser beam impinging on the polygon mirror 18 is reflected to the photoconductor 10 through the f lens 20 to scan the surface thereof.
  • the full-color image development mechanism 15 includes black toner development unit 15B, cyan toner development unit 15C, magenta toner development unit 15M, and yellow toner development unit 15Y.
  • the full-color image development unit 15 further includes a cylinder-shaped revolver unit 21.
  • the interior of the revolver unit 21 is quartered in which the development units 15B, 15C, 15M and 15Y are disposed in a equal manner.
  • An exemplary mechanism similar to such revolver unit 21 is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,634 issued March 3, 1998 to Maruta , the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the revolver unit 21 is driven by a revolver motor 22 ( FIG.
  • one of the development units 15B, 15C, 15M and 15Y can be selected to use one of the black, cyan, magenta, and yellow colors.
  • each development unit has a mechanism for selectively changing (rotating) the position of a development sleeve of each development unit between operative and inoperative positions so as not to have the developer on the development sleeve contact the photoconductor 10 in a rotation mode. Similar examples of such mechanism are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,783 issued December 14, 1993 to Bisaiji, et al. , the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the intermediate image transfer belt 16 has an image transfer surface longer than the image carrying surface of the photoconductor 10 and on which at least two A4-sized-page images can be formed. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is rotatably held by a plurality of rollers 23 and other rollers, and is driven by a drum motor 24 ( FIG 4 ) which also drives the photoconductor 10.
  • a toner image of each color is transferred four times, one after another, from the photoconductor 10 to the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • Each image transfer from the photoconductor 10 to the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is referred to as a belt transfer operation.
  • a belt transfer charger 26 is disposed at a position opposite to the photoconductor 10 inside the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the full-color toner image transferred on the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is further transferred by a sheet transfer charger 28 onto a recording sheet 25 which is advanced by a registration roller 27. This further transfer is referred to as a sheet transfer operation.
  • the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is cleaned by a belt cleaning unit 29 at a position after the sheet transfer operation and before the belt transfer operation.
  • the belt cleaning unit 29 moves around a pivot 29P to a position where the belt cleaning unit 29 contacts the intermediate image transfer belt 16. Upon completing the cleaning operation, the belt cleaning unit 29 moves around the pivot 29P to another position where the belt cleaning unit 29 comes out of contact with the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the intermediate image transfer belt 16 has register marks 30x and 30y at predetermined interior positions thereof.
  • the register mark 30x is used for a determination of a timing for transferring each color toner image from the photoconductor 10 onto the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the register mark 30y is used for a determination of a timing for transferring the full-color image from the intermediate image transfer belt 16 onto the recording sheet 25 sent by the registration roller 27.
  • These register marks 30x and 30y are detected by a mark sensor 31 which is disposed at a predetermined position inside the intermediate image transfer belt 16. After the sheet transfer operation is completed, the recording sheet 25 is further advanced to a fixing unit 33 ( FIG. 4 ) by a sheet transfer belt 32.
  • a reference numeral 61 of FIG. 2 denotes a revolver home position sensor for detecting that the full-color image development mechanism 15 has returned to its home position.
  • the image forming mechanism of the printer 1 is structured.
  • the thus-structured image forming mechanism is controlled by a printer controller 41.
  • the printer controller 41 is one of the controllers which are included in the full-color copying apparatus 100.
  • the full-color copying apparatus 100 includes a plurality of controllers to control the respective mechanisms thereof shown in FIG. 1 .
  • These controllers are a printer controller 41, a scanner controller 42, a paper supplier controller 43, a document feeder controller 44, a sorter controller 45, a console panel controller 46, and a system controller 47.
  • the printer controller 41 controls the above-described operations of the printer 1, and the system controller 47 controls, in particular, a print process, an image writing process, a recording sheet supply process, a document transfer process, and a sort process.
  • the printer controller 41 is a microcomputer-based controller that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the CPU 51 controls various components shown in FIG. 4 , including a serial communications controller 54, a writing control IC (Integrated Circuit) 55, a laser light source unit 56, and an IO (Input and Output) controller 57.
  • the CPU 51 further controls a main motor 58, the aforementioned drum motor 24, a development motor 59, the aforementioned revolver motor 22, a toner supply motor 60, and the aforementioned polygon motor 19.
  • the CPU 51 further controls the aforementioned mark sensor 31, the aforementioned revolver home position sensor 61, and the aforementioned fixing unit 33.
  • the CPU 51 further controls a power supply unit 62, a voltage measuring circuit 63, and a toner deposit amount measuring sensor 64.
  • the CPU 51 includes a relative position detector 51a, a time projector 51b, and a time comparator 51c.
  • the relative position detector 51a detects relative positions of the mark sensor 31 and the register marks 30x and 30y of the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the time projector 51b projects, at an image forming start time, a time needed for the mark sensor 31 to detect the register marks 30x and 30y on the basis of the relative positions detected by the relative position detector 51a.
  • the time comparator 51c calculates a time difference between the time projected by the time projector 51b and a time needed for the intermediate image transfer belt 16 to rotate at a stable speed when the rotation speed thereof is reduced by half.
  • the writing control IC 55 controls an image data writing with the laser beam through the laser light source control unit 56 and the polygon motor 19.
  • a moving speed of the laser beam relative to the photoconductor 10 in the sub-scanning direction is referred to as a process line speed A.
  • This process line speed A determines an image writing density with the laser beam relative to the photoconductor 10 in the sub-scanning direction.
  • the embodiment of the present invention has exemplary three different process line speeds, as shown in the following Table 1, in the ROM 52 or the RAM 53.
  • a speed of an image transfer from the intermediate image transfer belt 16 to the recording sheet 25 is referred to as a process line speed B.
  • This process line speed B determines an image transfer resolution relative to the surface of the recording sheet 25.
  • the printer controller 41 has exemplary two process line speeds B, as shown in the following Table 2, in the ROM 52 or the RAM 53.
  • the printer controller 41 is allowed to use any one of the above-mentioned three process line speeds A in combination with any one of the above-mentioned two process line speeds B. Accordingly, one of the following six combinations shown in Table 3 can be selected.
  • the process line speed A is set to a value of 156 mm/s, and the process line speed B to a value of 78 mm/s.
  • two consecutive A4-sized-page images will be formed in an image forming mode of 400 dpi with a type-2 sheet on the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the CPU 51 Upon receiving an image forming start signal (command), the CPU 51 turns on the quenching lamp 11 and the drum motor 24 to start an image forming cycle.
  • the photoconductor 10 rotates counterclockwise and the intermediate image transfer belt 16 clockwise, both at a process line speed A of 156 mm/s.
  • the printer controller 41 When the photoconductor 10 rotates such that a surface thereof which is first exposed to the activated quenching lamp 11 reaches a charging position, the printer controller 41 turns on the drum charger 12. Then, when the photoconductor 10 further rotates such that a surface thereof which is first charged by the activated drum charger 12 reaches an image development position, the printer controller 41 turns on development DC (Direct Current) and AC (Alternate Current) biases and the development motor 59. When the photoconductor 10 further rotates such that a surface thereof which has first received an image development operation of the development units 15B, 15C, 15M, and 15Y with the activated development DC and AC biases, reaches an intermediate image transfer position, the printer controller 41 turns on the belt transfer charger 26.
  • development DC Direct Current
  • AC Alternate Current
  • the printer controller 41 rotates the revolver unit 21 so that a development unit having a correct color moves to the image development position, after turning on the development DC and AC biases.
  • the printer controller 41 When the mark sensor 31 detects the register mark 30x in a rotation of the intermediate image transfer belt 16, the printer controller 41 generates a scanning start signal (command) for a first color (e.g., the black color). Then, the electrostatic latent image of consecutive two pages on the photoconductor 10 is developed with the first color (e.g., the black color) and transferred onto the intermediate image transfer belt 16. After a completion of the intermediate image transfer operation, the printer controller 41 rotates the revolver unit 21 to develop the image with a second color (e.g., the cyan color), so that the development unit 15c is carried to the development position. Also, upon a completion of the intermediate image transfer operation, the belt cleaning unit 29 moves around the pivot 29P so as to be released from contact with the intermediate image transfer belt 16, thereby avoiding an erasure of the image formed on the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • a scanning start signal command
  • the printer controller 41 rotates the revolver unit 21 to develop the image with a second color (e.g., the cyan color
  • the printer controller 41 again generates a scanning start signal (command) for a second color (e.g., the cyan color).
  • a scanning start signal command
  • the cyan color image is transferred onto the intermediate image transfer belt 16 so as to be overlaid on the first color image.
  • the revolver unit 21 is controlled to rotate so that the development unit 15M, for example, is located in the development position to develop the image with a third color (the magenta color).
  • the images with the third and fourth colors are in turn developed in a similar manner and sequentially overlaid on the image with the first and second colors.
  • the paper supplier 3 feeds a recording sheet 25 (a thick sheet) at the commencement of the image forming operation. Registration of the recording sheet 25 is conducted so that, when the upstream edge of the toner image on the intermediate image transfer belt 16 comes close to the sheet transfer charger 28, the upstream edge of the toner image aligns with the upstream edge of the recording sheet 25.
  • This registration is performed on the basis of the detection of the register mark 30y by the mark sensor 31, where the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate image transfer belt 16 rotate at a process line speed B of 78 mm/s, which has been changed from 156 mm/s when the transfer of the toner image to the intermediate image transfer belt 16 had been completed
  • process line speed B 78 mm/s
  • each of the development units 15B, 15C, 16M, and 15Y is located at a position so as not to contact the photoconductor 10.
  • the recording sheet 25 is fed to a position of sheet transfer operation by the sheet transfer charger 28 which is connected to a positive voltage power supply unit, with the thus synchronized toner image on the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the recording sheet 25 is charged with a positive voltage by a corona discharge current of the sheet transfer charger 28 and the toner image on the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is attracted by the charge on the recording sheet 25.
  • the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet 25.
  • the charge of the recording sheet 25 is discharged by a discharge mechanism (not shown) disposed immediately after the sheet transfer charger 28.
  • the recording sheet 25 having the toner image is further forwarded to the fixing unit 33 by the sheet transfer belt 32.
  • the fixing unit 33 the toner image is fixed on the recording sheet 25 by heat and pressure. After the fixing unit 33, the recording sheet 25 is ejected to a predetermined location of the copying apparatus 100.
  • the process line speed B is set at 78 mm/s which is relatively slow so as to sufficiently fix an image even on the thick recording sheet 25, while the process line speed A is set at 156 mm/s which is a standard speed so as to be able to conduct an image forming operation at a resolution of 400 dpi.
  • a color toner image can be formed on the thick recording sheet 25 in a superior manner.
  • an embodiment according to the present invention can avoid generation of an inferior image by deposition of toner or toner carrier on a dirty background, since the development units 15B, 15C, 15M, and 15Y are moved to positions not in contact with the photoconductor 10 during the change of the process line speed B.
  • the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate image transfer belt 16 proceed to an ending sequence. That is, in the ending sequence, the belt transfer charger 26 is turned off Then, a portion of the photoconductor 10, which is exposed to the belt transfer charger 26 when the belt transfer charger 26 is turned off passes the position at which the portion is exposed to the drum charger 12. At this time, the drum charger 12 is turned off. Further, a portion of the photoconductor 10, which is exposed to the drum charger 12 when the drum charger 12 is turned off, passes the position at which the image development operation is conducted At this time, the development AC and DC biases and the development motor 15 are turned off.
  • the mark sensor 31 is in an operative mode for detecting the register marks 30x and 30y of the intermediate image transfer belt 16. Then, the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is further rotated so that the register mark 30x proceeds to a predetermined position after being detected by the mark sensor 31. At this time, the drum motor 24 and the quenching lamp are turned off. The ending sequence is conducted in this way.
  • the CPU 51 Upon receiving an image forming start signal (command), the CPU 51 turns on the quenching lamp 11 and the drum motor 24 to start an image forming cycle.
  • the photoconductor 10 rotates counterclockwise and the intermediate image transfer belt 16 clockwise, both at a process line speed A of 104 mm/s.
  • the printer controller 41 When the photoconductor 10 rotates such that a surface thereof which is first exposed to the activated quenching lamp 11 reaches a charging position, the printer controller 41 turns on the drum charger 12. Then, when the photoconductor 10 further rotates such that a surface thereof which is first charged by the activated drum charger 12 reaches an image development position, the printer controller 41 turns on development DC (Direct Current) and AC (Alternate Current) biases and the development motor 59. When the photoconductor 10 further rotates such that a surface thereof, which has first received an image development operation of the development units 15B, 15C, 15M, or 15Y with the activated development DC and AC biases, reaches an intermediate image transfer position, the printer controller 41 turns on the belt transfer charger 26.
  • development DC Direct Current
  • AC Alternate Current
  • the printer controller 41 rotates the revolver unit 21 so that a development unit having a correct color moves to the image development position, after turning on the development DC and AC biases.
  • the printer controller 41 When the mark sensor 31 detects the register mark 30x during rotation of the intermediate image transfer belt 16, the printer controller 41 generates a scanning start signal (command) for a first color (e.g., the black color). Then, the electrostatic latent image of consecutive two pages on the photoconductor 10 is developed with the first color (e.g., the black color) and transferred onto the intermediate image transfer belt 16. After completion of the intermediate image transfer operation, the printer controller 41 rotates the revolver unit 21 to develop the image with a second color (e.g., the cyan color), so that the development unit 15C is carried to the development position. Also, upon completion of the intermediate image transfer operation, the belt cleaning unit 29 is released from contact with the intermediate image transfer belt 16 so as not to erase the image thereon.
  • a scanning start signal for a first color (e.g., the black color).
  • the electrostatic latent image of consecutive two pages on the photoconductor 10 is developed with the first color (e.g., the black color) and transferred onto the intermediate image transfer
  • the printer controller 41 again generates a scanning start signal (command) for a second color (e.g., the cyan color).
  • a scanning start signal command
  • the cyan color image is transferred onto the intermediate image transfer belt 16 so as to be overlaid on the first color image.
  • the revolver unit 21 is controlled to rotate so that the development unit 15M, for example, is located in the development position to develop the image with a third color (the magenta color).
  • the images with the third and fourth colors are in turn developed in a similar manner and sequentially overlaid on the image with the first and second colors.
  • the paper supplier 3 feeds a recording sheet 25 (an ordinary sheet) at the commencement of the image forming operation. Registration of the recording sheet 25 is conducted so that, when the upstream edge of the toner image on the intermediate image transfer belt 16 comes close to the sheet transfer charger 28, the upstream edge of the toner image aligns with the upstream edge of the recording sheet 25.
  • This registration is performed on the basis of the detection of the register mark 30y by the mark sensor 31, where the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate image transfer belt 16 rotate at a process line speed B of 156 mm/s, which has been changed from 104 mm/s when the transfer of the toner image to the intermediate image transfer belt 16 had been completed
  • process line speed B 156 mm/s
  • each of the development units 15B, 15C, 16M and 15Y is located at a position so as not to contact with the photoconductor 10.
  • the recording sheet 25 is fed to a position of sheet transfer operation by the sheet transfer charger 28 which is connected to a positive voltage power supply unit, with the thus synchronized toner image on the intermediate image transfer belt 16.
  • the recording sheet 25 is charged with a positive voltage by a corona discharge current of the sheet transfer charger 28 and the toner image on the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is attracted by the charge on the recording sheet 25.
  • the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet 25.
  • the charge of the recording sheet 25 is discharged by a discharge mechanism (not shown) disposed immediately after the sheet transfer charger 28.
  • the recording sheet 25 having the toner image is further forwarded to the fixing unit 33 by the sheet transfer belt 32.
  • the fixing unit 33 the toner image is fixed on the recording sheet 25 by heat and pressure. After the fixing unit 33, the recording sheet 25 is ejected to a predetermined location of the copying apparatus 100.
  • the process line speed B is set at 156 mm/s which is relatively fast so as to increase a total efficiency of printing operation, while the process line speed A is set at 104 mm/s which is relatively slow so as to be able to conduct an image forming operation at a resolution of 600 dpi.
  • a high resolution color toner image can be formed at a relatively high print efficiency in a superior manner.
  • this embodiment according to the present invention can avoid generation of an inferior image by deposition of toner or toner carrier on a dirty background, since the development units 15B, 15C, 16M and 15Y are moved to positions not in contact with the photoconductor 10 during the change of the process line speed B.
  • the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate image transfer belt 16 proceed to an ending sequence. That is, in the ending sequence, the belt transfer charger 26 is turned off. Then, a portion of the photoconductor 10 which is exposed to the belt transfer charger 26 when the belt transfer charger 26 is turned off, passes the position at which the portion is exposed to the drum charger 12. At this time, the drum charger 12 is turned off. Further, a portion of the photoconductor 10, which is exposed to the drum charger 12 when the drum charger 12 is turned off, passes the position at which the image development operation is conducted.
  • the development AC and DC biases and the development motor 15 are turned off
  • the mark sensor 31 is in an operative mode for detecting the register marks 30x and 30y of the intermediate image transfer belt 16. Then, the intermediate image transfer belt 16 is further rotated so that the register mark 30x proceeds to a predetermined position after being detected by the mark sensor 31. At this time, the drum motor 24 and the quenching lamp are turned off. The ending sequence is conducted in this way.
  • the invention may be conveniently implemented using a conventional general purpose digital computer programmed according to the teaching of the present specification, as will be apparent to those skilled in the computer art.
  • Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the software art.
  • the present invention may also be implemented by the preparation of application specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
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Claims (8)

  1. Dispositif de formation d'image, comprenant :
    un élément de support d'image (10) qui peut supporter sur une surface de celui-ci une image formée en exposant ladite surface à un faisceau laser de balayage selon un processus de formation d'image ;
    un élément de transfert d'image intermédiaire (16) positionné pour recevoir ladite image dudit élément de support d'image (10), et pour transférer ladite image sur une feuille d'enregistrement (25) selon un processus de transfert d'image ;
    une mémoire qui mémorise une pluralité de valeurs de vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables A, définissant chacune une vitesse du processus de formation d'image effectué sur ledit élément de support d'image avec le faisceau laser de balayage dans une direction de balayage secondaire, et une pluralité de valeurs de vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables B, définissant chacune une vitesse du processus de transfert d'image ; et
    un contrôleur connecté pour commander une vitesse au moins de l'élément de support d'image (10) et de l'élément de transfert d'image intermédiaire (16) de manière à obtenir une pluralité de combinaisons desdites vitesses de ligne de processus A et B en sélectionnant l'une de ladite pluralité de valeurs de vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables A et l'une de ladite pluralité de valeurs de vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables B et en commandant au moins l'élément de support d'image et l'élément de transfert d'image intermédiaire selon les vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnées.
  2. Dispositif de formation d'image selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre :
    une pluralité de mécanismes de développement (15Y, 15C, 15M, 15B), pouvant contenir chacun des agents de développement et qui sont positionnés pour développer une image en mettant les agents de développement en contact avec ladite surface dudit élément de support d'image ; et
    un mécanisme connecté à ladite pluralité de mécanismes de développement de manière à mettre ladite pluralité de mécanismes de développement dans l'une ou l'autre d'une première condition dans laquelle lesdits mécanismes de développement amènent les agents de développement à venir en contact avec ladite surface dudit élément de support d'image et d'une deuxième condition dans laquelle lesdits mécanismes de développement amènent les agents de développement à s'éloigner de ladite surface dudit élément de support d'image (10),
    dans lequel ledit contrôleur est réalisé pour commander ledit mécanisme pour mettre chacun de ladite pluralité de mécanismes de développement dans ladite deuxième condition lorsque les vitesses de ligne de processus A et B changent.
  3. Dispositif de formation d'image selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite pluralité de combinaisons comprend une combinaison dans laquelle ladite vitesse de ligne de processus A est supérieure à ladite vitesse de ligne de processus B.
  4. Dispositif de formation d'image selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite pluralité de combinaisons comprend une combinaison dans laquelle ladite vitesse de ligne de processus A est inférieure à ladite vitesse de ligne de processus B.
  5. Processus de formation d'image, comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    former une image sur une surface d'un élément de support d'image (10) en exposant ladite surface à un faisceau laser de balayage ;
    transférer l'image sur un élément de transfert d'image intermédiaire (16) ;
    transférer l'image sur une feuille d'enregistrement (25) ;
    sélectionner une combinaison de vitesses de ligne de processus A et B en sélectionnant l'une de la pluralité de valeurs de vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables A et l'une de ladite pluralité de valeurs de vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables B, dans lequel les vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables A définissent chacune une vitesse de l'étape de formation dans une direction de balayage secondaire, et les vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnables B définissent chacune une vitesse des étapes de transfert d'image ; et
    commander au moins l'élément de support d'image (10) et l'élément de transfert d'image intermédiaire (16) selon les vitesses de ligne de processus sélectionnées.
  6. Processus de formation d'image selon la revendication 5, comprenant en outre :
    une pluralité de mécanismes de développement (15Y, 15C, 15M, 15B), pouvant contenir chacun des agents de développement et qui sont positionnés pour développer une image en mettant les agents de développement en contact avec ladite surface dudit élément de support d'image ; et
    mettre, lorsque les vitesses de ligne de processus A et B changent, une pluralité de mécanismes de développement contenant des agents de développement dans l'une ou l'autre d'une première condition dans laquelle lesdits mécanismes de développement amènent les agents de développement à venir en contact avec ladite surface dudit élément de support d'image, et d'une deuxième condition dans laquelle lesdits mécanismes de développement amènent les agents de développement à s'éloigner de ladite surface dudit élément de support d'image (10).
  7. Processus de formation d'image selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ladite pluralité de combinaisons comprend une combinaison dans laquelle ladite vitesse de ligne de processus A est supérieure à ladite vitesse de ligne de processus B.
  8. Processus de formation d'image selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ladite pluralité de combinaisons comprend une combinaison dans laquelle ladite vitesse de ligne de processus A est inférieure à ladite vitesse de ligne de processus B.
EP99107315A 1998-04-20 1999-04-19 Dispositif de formation d'image capable d'ajuster la vitesse de traitement de lignes Expired - Lifetime EP0952727B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

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EP08153540A EP1940142B1 (fr) 1998-04-20 1999-04-19 Dispositif de formation d'image capable d'ajuster la vitesse de traitement de lignes

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JP12530298 1998-04-20
JP10125302A JPH11305500A (ja) 1998-04-20 1998-04-20 画像形成装置
JP21092298 1998-07-27
JP21092298 1998-07-27
JP10253645A JP2000105526A (ja) 1998-07-27 1998-09-08 画像形成装置
JP25364598 1998-09-08

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EP08153540.3 Division-Into 2008-03-28

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1940142B1 (fr) 2010-06-16
KR100324103B1 (ko) 2002-02-20
EP0952727A3 (fr) 2000-08-16
EP1940142A3 (fr) 2009-04-15
CN1232975A (zh) 1999-10-27
EP0952727A2 (fr) 1999-10-27
CN100507729C (zh) 2009-07-01
DE69942516D1 (de) 2010-07-29
DE69942113D1 (de) 2010-04-22
CN1544992A (zh) 2004-11-10
US6160569A (en) 2000-12-12
CN1165817C (zh) 2004-09-08
KR19990083258A (ko) 1999-11-25
EP1940142A2 (fr) 2008-07-02

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